America is Fucked
Out of context: Reply #2846
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- mg332
America needs carpenters and plumbers. Gen Z doesn't seem interested
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/05/1…And the associated Reddit comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/Economi…
THIS is the stuff that worries me. Not nuclear war, not Russia, not China, THIS stuff. I think we're staring down a decline of people willing to do a lot of blue collar jobs, whether that's construction, municipal services, repair work, etc. Look at the Reddit comments about the physical toll of a lot of those jobs - people being injured and out of work with no income before they're even 50. Certainly not true of everyone, but true of enough to make it undesirable for some to even consider those jobs.
Then you've got the consistent demonization and degradation of blue collar work in TV and movies. You've also got social media and the way it's made so many people feel like they're too good for anything that would get their hands dirty, and destined for YouTuber and influencer fame despite offering nothing of substance to the world.
Does this worry anyone else?
On the flip side, it offers opportunities. If there aren't going to be enough people to roof homes, pour foundations, do electrical work - especially in warmer climates where working on a job site all day royally sucks, does this lend to a rise in pre-fab modular housing that can be built in a factor and assembled easily on site? Does it offer those people better paying, less strenuous jobs that essentially involves controlling robots and assembly systems instead of building everything by hand?
Thoughts?
- maybe in your community. or maybe because you spend so much time in cyberspace, you ignore the efforts of an entire generation.imbecile
- in my community, i know woodworkers and welders half my age who know how to conduct business and save money while delivering quality workimbecile
- the decline of trades is not a problem, the increase in gig culture is the problem. influencers, instagram, corporate greed and stagnant wages.imbecile
- humans will always work to support themselves. a journalist crunching numbers ignores the fact that the commercial building industry is boomingimbecile
- WhY wOn'T tHeY wOrK? says the fat fuck who refuses to pay.imbecile
- Mario brothers movie should do wonders for the plumbing trade.monospaced
- But seriously this will just make quality work more costly. I actually foresee an increase in the trades as tech jobs disappear and social media loses appealmonospaced
- I'm willing to retrain as a plumber. But here in the UK they make it too complex. Either be a plumbers 'mate', or do a lengthy full time course.shapesalad
- after course you need on job training to get qualified. Ok if you are young and your dad is a plumber, but not easy if you are 40+shapesalad
- and willing to retain on weekends + evenings. Which I'd happily do, if after 2 years it lead to being qualified.shapesalad
- But it doesn't. Hopefully in the future UK gov has the motivation to address this and make on routes easier for 40+ year olds.shapesalad
- These trade are making a killing. Migrants have filled a large void but still a big shortage. Mono is right, increase in trades with less available tech jobs.IRNlun6
- Retraining be as Plumber, from designer... my pipe work would be aligned to a grid, my branding, logo and marketing would be awesome.shapesalad
- Anyway.. with the rapid rise of AI.. I'll probably have no other choice than to retain as a plumber when I've spent a year unemployed...shapesalad
- I think ultimately the loss of tech jobs is a very good thing. So much wasted intellectual capital wasted on bullshit tech companies.IRNlun6
- shapesalad you likely have very marketable skillsets that could be leveraged in other marketsIRNlun6
- AI may replace tech labor but directing is tough to automate.IRNlun6
- Good comments.mg33
- The loss of tech jobs is not going to be long enough lasting to make any permanent dent in trade careers.CyBrainX
- That’s right. There will be a continued trend of more tech jobs in general, but those can never replace these trades.monospaced
- My neighbor is union and does wallpaper for commercial real estate. He does insanely well. His wife doesn’t even work.monospaced
- Modern houses build to the latest standards need less repairs, if any, over decades. All these jobs are for old shitty houses, especially in the US.********
- But yes, we need people to maintain the infrastructure of modern life. Tiktokers can't do that.********
- And re: replacing jobs, it's way easier to replace these old jobs (construction, etc.) with bots, than it's to replace white collar jobs********
- huh, I think it's the other way around - easier to write some code to replace a human at computer, than build a bot that can navigate the lived world.shapesalad
- There are no modern houses that don’t need repairs dude. There’s no new age plumbing that lasts longer.monospaced
- You clearly don't write code shapesalad :))********
- And you can create bots to replace most manufacturing (repetitive tasks) - including full houses! You can 3D print a lot of things too btw********
- @monospaced again your opinions are limited and useless - as you live in the US where houses are shit. Move to Europe, you won't need plumbers if ever in decade********
- I've lived in interbellic houses, for years, no issues whatsoever.
Learn to build good houses first******** - Best building in NYC? Nah, same shit: https://www.nytimes.…********
- lol you’re so far up your own ass i don’t think even a plumber can rescue you. Holy shit could you be more wrong??monospaced
- As someone who’s lived in both Europe and the US I can guarantee there are plumbing issues in both places. I doubt you’ve even set foot in the USmonospaced
- But if you want to act like pipes don’t break, old isn’t relaxed, or you don’t clog toilets with all the shit you spew, go ahead. You look like a fucking idiotmonospaced
- lol, Europeans don’t need plumbers or repairs. Fucking lol how fucking retardedmonospaced
- Yes you idiot, houses in Europe tend to last longer and have way fewer problems. So jobs like plumbers and electricians here don't earn millions like in the US********
- And I just gave you the example above with the most expensive skyscraper in NYC has plumbing issues 'cuz you build crap
At least own it******** - Does Europe construct a lot of new homes? One thing that plagues the US is urban sprawl and rapid cookie cutter production.IRNlun6
- Europe has the advantage of really well build walkable cities using traditional materials that last hundreds of years.IRNlun6
- I'd pick traditional materials over modern any day, but they are more expensive.IRNlun6
- It's incredible driving through the French country side seeing homes from the 1600s. Giverny is one of the most beautiful places I've seen.IRNlun6
- I’ve been to Romania. Major cities defined by a huge chunk of decaying buildings and people living in shit housing. Fuuuuumonospaced
- And a building in NYC isn’t definitive of housing building codes. What a stupid af connection.monospaced
- I’ve seen a lot of poor construction and disrepair throughout Europe. From Italy to Austria, and I’m pretty sure people have regular repairs and fixes. Lolmonospaced
- yeah no doubt there's always a need for repair and maintenanceIRNlun6
- Im making a documentary series about Blue collar artisans. Granite sculptor, sheet metal artisan, decorative wood cutter.toemaas